Coking retort oven



Jan GQ 1931- J. VAN ACKEREN COKING RETORT OVEN Filed May 23, 1925 .0-0 lzorrow.

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4%.. attozmw g3 e (n Acker-en W Clam-7' Patented Jan. 6, 1931 AUNITED STATES lPa'rrs.Nr OFFICE l JOSEPH vAN ACHEREN, or PITTsBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR To THnHoPPnRs, COMPANY,y oP PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION. or PRNNsYLvANIA coHING RETonT ovEN Application led Hay 23,

This invention comprehends improvements of general utility in the coking retort oven art; and also comprehends certain improvements especially a plicable to coking retort ovensof the wellnown cross regenerative type exemplified in the patent to H. Koppers,

. No.y 818,033,|dated April, 17, 1903, andl in thev patent to Joseph Becker, No. 1,37 4,546, dated April 12, 1921.A

The invention hasfor objects the provision of a coking retort oven having, as an important characteristic,'a novel system in control of the ilow through the flame ilues ofthe heating walls, whichpermits a considerablereduction -not only in the length but in the4 cross-sectional dimensions or area of the horizontal or bus flue located at the top of theV vertical flame flues, whichl is substantially alongside the top level of the coal charge in low in the vflues onl the opposite side. Thek present invention permits, for example, the substitution of a pair of horizontal flues of l relatively smaller but constant cross-sectional area in each heating wall for the usual single horizontal ilue and each horizontal fine i is'subdivided into a plurality of short horizontal fines that serve a restricted number, in the present embodiment, five, vertical flame flues. Consequently the cross-sectional area of the horizontal flues may be greatlyjreduced as each is rrequired to accommodate the flow for acomparatively few, inthe present in stance; five, vertical flame flues. The abovestated reduction in size of the horizontal lues is an important advantage for the reason that it enables a considerable thickening andv strengthening of the walls of the oven structure in the region of the horizontal ilues. It

permits the upward extension of the flame.

flues for extension of the ameheating, thereby permitting' more rapid coking of the charge by direct liame heating upto substantially'the top ofthe coal charge in the adjoining oven, and provides, by reason of the 1928. serial No. 32,7409.

reduction in the cross-sectional area ofthe horizontal `flue and the maintaining ofthe vcross-sectional area constant throughout its length, for the provision of verticallyelonf gated lbriclrwork thatconstitutes an insulation alongside the crown space in the lcontiguous 'coking chamber, which brickwork 'prevents destructive decomposition, of the gaseous products of distillation that accumulate in the crown space fof the coking chamber, that might otherwise occur by reason of the extension of the lvertical flame les and the resulting extension of direct flame heating in the vertical ame lues.

In addition to the objects recited above,

4the invention contemplates a novel regenerator construction and system ofow therethrough and throu h the flues, promoting uniformity of distriution, and has for other objects such other improvements or advantages in constructi'onandI operationas are found to obtain inthe structures and devices hereinafter described or claimed.'

In the accompanyin drawings, forming a part of this specifcatIon, and showin or purposes vof exemplifica'tion, a pre erred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention to such illustrative instance or instances: i i

Figure 1 is a -crosswise vertical section taken through a coke oven battery embodying features above .specified and equipped with the improvements of the resent invention, the view being taken ongitudinall through aoheatingwall constituted of vertical combustion flues and throu h a air yof regenerators, in planes indicate byft e line C-o-C of Fig. 2. Y j

Fig. 2. is a composite vertical sectional elevational viewtaken-lonigtudinally of a coke oven battery in planes indicated by the lines o Fig. 3 is a horizonte sectional elevational view taken in the plane indicated by the line D--D of'Fig. 1.,

, The same characters of reference indicate the same parts throughoutthe several views ofthe drawings. f l In the embodiment illustrated in the draw- `having provision for being operated either ings, the invention is incorporated in a cmbination coke`oven battery, 1. e., a battery with producer gas for fuel or with coke oven as burned in an atmosphere of ordinary preeated air, such as is utilized inordinary coke ovens or with coke oven gas burned in an atmosphere containing both air and a neutral seous diluent which is introduced into the ame lues separately from the air. A combination coke oven battery having these features is described and claimed in the patent of Jose h Becker for a coking retort oven Patent o. 1,416,322.

For convenience, the present description will be confined to the present illustrative embodiment of the invention in such a combination oven battery; the novel features and improvements made b the invention are susceptible of other app ications, such, for example, as ordinary s o-called coke ovens employing coke oven gas as a fuel, or ordi-k nary so-called gas ovens employing producer gas as a fuel; hence, the Vscope of the invention is not confined to the specific use and specific embodiment herein described as an illustrative example.

Referring to the drawings: There are illustrated views of a coke oven battery 0r plant of the b -product type having features above specified. -Said oven batter embodies in its construction alplur'ality o crosswise elongated heating walls, 11, 11 and a lurality of intermediate crosswise elongate vertical coking chambers 12. The heating walls 11 form the side walls of the respective coking chambers 12, as shown more particularly` in Fig. 2, and, in the present instance, are supthe heavy supporting or pillar walls 13, 13 which extend crosswise of the lbattery andare located, as shown in Fig. 2,

beneath the respective heating walls 11, 11. These pillar walls collectively form the main support for the entire super-structure of the oven battery and are themselves supported upon a flat mat or platform-which constitutes the sub-foundation on whichl the entire battery'rests. f

Thejcoal to be coked is charged into th several cokingv chambers or ovens through charging holes 14 located in the' top 15 of the lovenl batteryv and positioneddirectly above the oven or chambers 12, as shown in Figs. 2

and 3. These charging holes 14 are. equipped with the usualremovable covers, which are removed during charging of the individual ovens or coking chambers and are placed in position to close the tops of such coking chambers during the entire coking or distilling operation. The gases of distillation pass from the tops of the several coking chambers 12 through gas outlets and thence through ascens'ion pipes (not shown) in to the usual gas collecting main which vcarries the distillation products to the by-product recovery apparatus.

Heat for -cok' the charges of coal in the several ovens or c ambers 12 is derived from the heating walls 11, which, as above mentioned, extend crosswise of the battery at the sides of the coking chambers. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, each heating Wall 11 is constituted of a plurality of ame or combustion fiues 17. The ame fines of each heatin wall are, in accordance with the present em diment of the invention, operatively disposed into two groups, a pusher -side oup F and a coke side rou G. When the ame flues on one side ofg the attery, for example the pusher side are burning, that is to say, o erating for upflow, the flame iiues of the co e side group of the same heatin wall .a are operating for downflow to permit exhaust of the waste gases. Reversal of the batteryis effected to cause the coke 'side roup of heating tlues to operate as upflow or Eurning ilues and the `pusher side group as downflow flues. Y n Y The crosswise regenerators 18 of the regenerator oven or batte arelocated in planes beneath the planes o the aforesaid heating walls 11 and coking chambers 12, and, in the present instance, extend in parallelism be- Aneaththe coking chambers and between the illar Walls 13. Located in the lmiddle engthwise vertical plane ofthe coke ovenl battery, is a vertical artition 19, as shown in Fig. 1, which'partition extends all the way up from the mat of the battery to the bottom 0 the overlying'coking chamber' and from lGll one to the Vother of the pillar walls`13. The

regenerators, which are respectively located on o posite sides of the battery extend in- .wa ly to said partition 19 and are separatedv thereby as clearly shown in Fi 1. This arrangement provides airs o regenerators extending crosswise o thebattery, each pair being constituted of a'pusher side regenerator, indicated by the reference character F work the channels forming the soles of such chambers and oienin'g up into the checkerwork. If desire each regenerator 18 may be divided, as shown in the present embodiment of the invention, by a vertical partition 22 which extends longitudinally of the regenerator and serves to separate the regeneratoil into two iiow compartments located respectively. on the opposite sides of such partition 22.

The several regenerators are heated, in alternation by the hot combustion products thatV are exhausted from the llame or combustion lues hereinbefore mentioned and then impart such heat to the medium that they feed into these llame llues. Each regenerator 18 communicates with the corresponding roups of tlues 17 of the two heating walls a jacent to and respectively located .on the opposite sides of the regenerator, by means of ducts 23, each duct leading upwardly from a re enerator into a llue, as shown in Fi 2. l hus, each regenerator of the group F 1s connected with all of the flues of the two adjacently disposed groups F; and similarly each regenerator of the group G is connected with all of the lues of the two adjacently disposed groups G. With this construction and arrangement, every group of flues F or G is connected by ducts 23 with two adjacently disposed regenerators of the corresponding group, and, consequently, each grou of lues may be fed with gaseous mediumrom two separate regenerators. The advantageV of this arrangement will be clear in the hereinafter described operation of the battery.

tion, the groups of fines on one side of the battery are operatingfor flow in one direction, while concurrently the groups of flues on the other side of the battery are operating for flow in the opposite d1rection, and conseuently there is maintained flow in reverse irections thro h the regenerators that are respectively positioned on opposite sides of 5 the central longitudinal partltion 19. The

reversal inflow throu h the llame flues 17 and their communicab y 4connected regenerators ma thus be said to take place crosswise oft e battery, in accordance with the common practice in thisart. The reversal of the battery is effected at the end of an o erating period determined by` practice, an by means of any referred type of reversing mechanism.

T e function o such reversal is as follows: The regenerators that prior to the reversal operated as inflow regenerators become outflow regenerators,'and the outflow operating regenerators become inflow operating regenerators; the upburnin yseries of flues switches functions with the ownburning series of ilues on the opposite side of battery and the supply of gas is turnedvolf from the previously upburning flues and turned oninto the mains of the previously downburning llues.

Each flame flue 17 of 4each heating wall has in its top a port or opening 24 for draft and the passage of combustion products or waste gas from the llame within the flue. These ports 24 open up into horizontal or bus lues 25 formed in' the heating walls and connecting all of the vertical flues'that communicate with suchhorizontallues`25 by means of the portsl 24. According to the invention there are in `'each heating wall a plurality of, in

the present instance, two of such horizontal lues 25 positioned end toend with respect to each other and respectively located on opposite sides of the central dividing line L. By reason of the fact that there is a plurality of such horizontal lues 25 in e'ach heating wall, these flues 25 are not required to be of so great capacity as that necessary in present practice and consequently the cross sectional area of each horizontal flue 25 may be materially reduced proportionately with the length of such flue, with the result that the thickness and 'strength of the heat-nig walls are substantial- -l increased in the region of the horizontal ues.l Moreover, because of the fact that each horizontal flue 25 communicates with a substantially reduced number of vertical flues, in the present instance, half of the luesof the heating wall, uniformity and distribution of the kflow. through the vertical llues and the communicating regenerators is greatly promoted. f l c As shown, each horizontal flue 25 is of relatively reduced but constant cross-sectional I l o area and the two horizontal llues are co1n- In thev present embodlment of the 1nven' municably connected with] each other by which extend crosswise of the `battery s'ubstantially throughout the length of the `flues 25 and which are also of constant but of relatively ,greater kcross-sectional area than the horizontal llues 25. vThe connection lues'26 are located at a higher level than the oven chambers and s o may be and are of large cross-sectional areas that insure low velocities and ualized distribution of flow. lThe flues 25 an passa eways'or connection flues 26 are 'communicab y connected with each other by means of a, ducts 26 so t at, as shown in the present in-` stance, the horizontal lues 25 and each of the verticalducts 26 need onl be large enough to take care of the flow tlues instead of from all of the lues on one side of the central partition L and so the flow maybe at very low velocity. As the flow of gases through the flues is under equalized.

pressure and low velocity, the gases from each `of the'iues will tend tov flow through the nearest outlet or` duct 26', for instance each duct 26 will operate forv flow from two and one-half lues on each side of it.

Thus the flow from a pusher side group F of luesmay ass into the horizontal flue 25 thence throug the plurality of ducts 26 into the connectin ilue 26 then. through the plurality of vert1cal ducts 26 to the horizontal flue 250i the coke side group G of the same heat-ing wall into. the vertical ilues therein.

On reversal the ilow from the coke side group c lurality of elongated verticalrom five vertical ducts 26 enables the Freduction in cross-sectional dimensions and vertical extension of the horizontal flues -25 and connecting flues 26 and also permits of their bein of constant cross-sectional area which aords ample space for flow of the gases and .also permitsofa row of vertical elongated brickwork 27 arranged in the same vertical plane as is the crown space H in the adjoining coking chamber, thereby providin heat insulation alongside the crown space of the coking chamber wherein the valuable by-product gases evolved in the distillation operation accumulate and flow through to the usual distillate gas offtake. Such insulation brickwork is not only advantageous structurally but is also desirable in prevention of overheating and decomposing of the valuable gases of distillation accumulating in the crown spaces in the adjoining coking chamber. The minimum height of the crown-space H may vary with di'erent ovens dependent upon the kind and quality of coal they are designed to coke and the contemplated size and shape of the chamber therefor and is determined in practice in the .following manner well known in the art. The size of the usual initial space required to be left along the top of the oven for off-flow of gas from a charge while being coked is governed bythe principal coal intended to be employed in the oven chamber, and1 is `computed from the known gas yield of a definite quantity of a given coal under the shortest coking time contemplated. This computed size determines the to level to which the chamber may be charge with raw coal, which level is then mechanically fixed by locating the lower level of the usual coalleveler door on the pusher side of the chamber at such computed top, level for the coal charge. The final level of the crown-space H is then ascertained from such top level by scientifically computing from the known shrinking characteristics of the coal the top level to which the given raw coal charge will shrink at the end of the coking period. The

horizontal flow-duct means 25 are then, for instance, located in their respective heating walls so that their tops will be substantially up to the 'computed top level for finished coked charges, as exemplified in Fig. 2. In this manner, the minimum hei ht of the crown-space H and the top leve for coked charges are mechanically fixed and from such horizontal flues 25 the vertical combustion flues 17, ducts 26 and upper horizontal flowduct means, or further collecting or connecting flue 26, are located relative to the coking chamber, in the manner shown ony the drawings, so that the heat-ing of the coking chamber is maintained upwardly to nearly the top llevel for finished coke charges in the chambers, overheating of the gas in the crownspace H avoided, and a relatively thin cool top assured at the top of the coke charge by means of the location and dimensions of the horizontal flue 25. For exam le, in an oven havin the mean dimensions ,16.5 inches; B, 14 eet; oven length inside doors, 42 feet, 6 inches; and designed for coking in 16.83 hours 19.13 tons of coal averagin 759 cubic feet and 50.4 pounds per cubic oot in the chamber: the determined top level E for raw coal charges was 12 inches, the top level C for the horizontal flue and the substantially corresponding vfinal level forthe crown-space H and top level for the finished coke was 28 inches, and the depth D ofthe horizontal flue was 5.5 inches. In anotheroven having the mean dimensions A, 14 inches; B, 13 feet oven length inside doors 40 feet, 8 `nches; and

designed for coking in 13" hours 2.8 tons of coal averaging 545 cubic'feet and 47 pounds per cubic foot in the chamber; the determined top level E for raw coal charges was 18 inches, the top level C for the horizontal flue and the substantially corresponding final level for the crown-space H and top level for the finished coke was'30 inches, and the depth D of the horizontal flue was 5.5 inches. And for an oven to-be rincipally employed forcoal of still less shrinking t pe, the difference between E and C would o course be still less.

The employment of vertical partitions 28 in the horizontal flues 25, one each for every five vertical flame flues, i. e., one intermediate each two vertical ducts 26 not only improves the oven structurally but also serves to restrict the flow to and from each'grou of five vertical flues through the ducts 26 t ereby greatly facilitating the distribution and flow to and from the vertical flame flues. While it is desirable to utilize the vertical partitions 28 it is entirely lpractical to omit them as the flow to and from the fiues is so regulated as to be equalized in accordance with their re- 1` spective temperature and pressure differentials. Consequently the flow to and from each two and one-half lues on each side of each vertical duct 26 will be towards the nearest central duct 26.

The draft through the ports 24 may b regulated .by means of the usual .movable dampers or sliding bricks 27, positioned in the usual manner over the top of the vertical ducts 26 and adapted to be reached by access ues 28 which extend from the top of the horizontal flues 25 in each heating wall to the top 15 ofthe battery, there being an access flue positioned over each flame or combustion flue of each heating wall. As shown in Fig. 1 the upper portion of the vertically elongate brickwork 27 is also constituted of access flues 27^cwhich are in line with the access flues28 in the top 15 immediately above. These access flues27A may be closed by covers 28A adapted to seat over the top of such access lues.

But by reason of the fact that the collecting flue 26 may be of such large cross-area ifns'aeeaal and that each section of the horizontal flues 25, which `ports-through its duct 26f into the collecting ue 26,'is required to accommodate of the sliding bricks, such as 27, in the flue 26 or in theflues 25. y.

t Extending crosswise of the ,battery lin each pillar wall 13 and located beneath the heating wall 11 thereabove, is a pair of gas supply channels 29. These channels 29 are for the.

purpose of su plying coke oven as to the several flame ues on each side of t e. central line L and, forthis` urpose, the channel 29,

t communicates with t e individual flues of the f of the coke side group pusher side group F by means of ducts 31 that lead from such channel 29 individually into the bottoms of individual flues; and the channel29 which sup lies the several flues communicatestherewith by means of similar connecting ducts.v

.lVithin the several ducts are disposed the usual nozzles 32. The supply of coke oven gas to the respective channels 29 is derived from coke oven gas mains of the usual ty e and respectively located on the opposite si es ofthe battery and extending longitudinally therealong. SuitableI means is provided for f of neutral gaseous diluent. to the upburning` admitting or shutting off the supplyof gas with respect to eachl pair of channels 29, it being understood that thesupply of gas is maintained in one of the. channels of each pair while shut off from the other.

For operating the battery alternativel withthe use of la special generator gas, suc as producer gas as` a fuel, alternately disposed inflow operating regenerators may be optionally connected with a producer-.gas main, by mechanism such as is disclosed 1n the I before mentioned Patent, No. 1,416,322,

whereas the regenerators that are intermediate such alternately disposed regenerators are supplied with air, so that producer gas and air may be. conveyed into the upburning flame flues. t c Y c The operation of the battery, when uslng a special generator` gas, such as ordinary producer gas as a-fuel, is as follows: the supply of coke oven gas to the xcoke oven gas mainl f and to `all ofthe coke oven gas channels 29 is cut oil'. A supply of producer gas.. is permitted to flow into thealternate regenerators, such as are operating for inflow, anda supply of air enters the intermediately disposed regenerators. As eachflame flue isv communicably connected with two regenerators,l and each regenerator with-the flameflue's ofl two adjacently 'disposed heating walls, gas Vand air preheated in the respective lgas and air regeneratorsl enter and burn upwardly in each c inflow operating vertical flue. The Waste gases from the upburning flues pass into the through the channel 26 to the horizontal flues on the opposite side of the battery. From the lastmentioned horizontalflues, the exhaust gases pas/sfdownwardlv through their communicably connected through all of the regenerators on the downflow side of the bat-terytothe waste gas tunnel, throu h which the waste gases are con-` veyed to t e stack. On reversal of the flow,

the inflow operating regenerators and their l communicably connected flame or combustion fluesbecome outflow regenerators and .concurrently the outflow operating regenerators and flues become inflow operating regenerators and flues. Y 71 In operating the oven with coke oven gas in the ordinary manner, the supply (1f-pro-V 'ducer ygas to alternate regenerators is shut ofi' and air is vermitted to flow into all of the inflow operating regenerators. During coke oven gas operation, the supply of coke oven gas inthe channels 29 is fed into the upburning flues. The reversing mechanism-is operatedy at each reversal to place all of the in` flow operating regenerators in communication with the youter air and concurrently all of the outflow operatin regenerators in communication with the ex aust. f

.A further ymode of operation iswith cokel oven gas as a fuel,combined with a supply t supply of cokeoven gas is turned on. In-

stead however offpermitting air to flow into alternate regenerators that are yintermediate such alternate regenerators, waste gas is permitted-,to flow into alternate inflow operating regenerators and is delivered thereby to the upburning flame flues. The admission into each of the upburning flues of a supply of neutral.. gaseous diluent, such as waste gas, along with thefair, is effective to lengt-hen greatly the flames within such flues and'to prevent the localization of the hottest flame temperature in the extreme lower portions of theflues. i

The invention-ashereinabove set forth is embodied ina particular form of construction but may be variously embodied .within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

Iclaim: V i

1. In a cokino` retort oven, in combination: a plurality of:` parallel coking chambers; heating wallsbetween and contiguous thereto and each comprising individual vertical flame flues dis osed in groups operablev alterand directly communicating withthe vertical flues within the group; a connection flue for each of the heating walls, above the ,horizontal flues 25, ducts "26', y and thence flame flues and finally said duct means comprising a vertical duct midway each two consecutive partitions communicably` connecting the lues between each two consecutive partitions with the connec- 2. In a cokinfg retort oven, in combination: a plurality o parallel cokin heating-walls between and contiguous thereto and each comprising individual vertical flame lues dis osed in groups operable alternately for up ow combustion `and downiiow of combustion products; a horizontal iue of constant cross-sectional area immediately A above each of said groups and directly communicating with the vertical flues within the group; a connection-flue for each of the heatlng walls, above the horizontal flues of the heating wall, the connection-flue being of constant cross-sectionalvarea and communicably connecting, by duct means the aforesaid horizontal flues of one group` with the horizontal fiuesl of another group of vertical ilues of the same heatin wall; said horizontal lues being separated by partitions; and said duct means comprising ducts individual to each of the horizontal iiues, communica-bly connect-ing` them with the connection-flue.

3. In a coking retort oven, in combination: a series of alternate horizontal coking chambers and heating walls therefor arranged side-by-side in a row, each of said coking chambers having a crown-space 'having vthickened lateral walls at the upper part of the coking chamber and being adapted for being charged full of coal save for a gas space in the crown-space thereof left for collecting gas above the 'coal charges therein and each of said heating walls comprising vertical iiame-iues disposed in two groups.

orupflow and downflow in alternation with each other and extending substantially up to nearly, but below, the top level to which the adjoining chambers are adapted for being charged with coal, to effect uniformity of coking of said charges, horizontal flues immediately above the two groups of vertical flues and communicating with the-upper parts of the vertical lues in vsaid two groups,

said horizontal iiues being of small cross-V sectional area and so restricted in-vertical extension that they are located below the4 level for which the adjoinin coking chambers are adapted for bein c arged and yet allow the vertical ameues to extend upwardly to nearly the top level for coked charges; a connection-flue of relatively large cross-sectional area, for each of the heating up of verticalflues of the same e horizontal chambers;

iframes:y

walls, and dis osed lengthwise thereof at a higher level t an the gas collectin crownspace of the adjoining cokingcham rs` and communicably connected by a lurality -of upwardly directed flow ducts with the horizontal iues that respectively servethe uplow and downow vertical flues in such heating wall; the said upwardly directed flow ducts bein horizontall Ingth of th`e eating wall so `that there is provided a plurality of said ducts for each of the two groups of verticalflues in the heating wall and so that each of said ducts is adapted to accommodate gas flow for a di'erent plurality of thevertical iiues within its group.

4. In a coking retort oven, in combination:

a series of alternate horizontal cooking ychambers and heating walls therefor, arranged side-by-side in a row, each of said heating vwalls comprising vertical combustion iiues disposed in two groups and each of said coking chambers extending above` the levelsv of the tops of the combustion ues in the heatin walls contiguous thereto; lower horizonta flow-duct means immediatel above each of said groups and communicating with the vertical iueswithin the group upper horizontal flow-duct means for each o the heating walls disposed above the lower horizontal flow-duct means of the heating wall and communicably connecting, through distributed ducts, the lower horizontalflow-duct means forl one group with the lower horizontal How-duct means for the other group of vertical ues in the heatin wall; each of said upper horizontal flowuct means being located above the levels of the tops of the coking chambers and each of said lower horizontal flow-duct `means being located entirely below said levels and so disposed as to be entirely at a spaced distance below the levels ofthe tops of said chambers, vand the said distributed ducts for each'of theV heating walls'being located between the upper and the lower 'horizontal flow-duct means of the heating wall and be- 'ing distributed .in horizontally spaced relationship therealong so that there is rovided a plurality of said ducts for each o lthe two .heating walls comprising vertical combustion iues dlsposed in twov groups and leach of said coking chambers extending above the levels of the tops of the combustionv flues in the heating walls contiguous thereto; lower horizonspaced along the tal flow-duct means immediately above each of said groups and communicating with the vertical flues within the group; u per horizontal flow-duct means for each o the heating walls disposed above the lower horizontal flow-duct means of the heating wall and communicably' connecting, through distributed ducts, the lower horizontal flow-duct means for one group with the lower horizontal flow- (luct means for the other group of vertical lues in the heating wall; each of said upper yhorizontal flow-duct means being located above the levels of the tops of the coking chambers and each of said lower horizontal flow-duct meansbeing located entirely below said levels and so disposed as to be entirely at a spaced distance below the levels of the tops of said chambers, and the said distributed ducts for each of the heating walls being located between the upper and the lower horizontal flow-duct means of the heating wall and being distributed in horizontally spaced relationship therealong so that there is provided a plurality of said ducts for each of two groups of vertical ues in the heating wall and so that each of said ducts is adapted to accommodate gas flow for a plurality of the vertical iues of the group thereof that they respectively serve; and regenerators communicabl connected with said vertical combustion ues.

6. In a coking retort oven, in combination: a series of alternate horizontal coking chambersy and heating walls therefor, arrapged side-by-side in a row, each of said heating walls comprising vertical combustion flues disposed in two groups and each of said coking chambers extending above the levels of the tops of the. combustion lues in the heating walls contiguous thereto; lower horizonta] liow-duct means .immediately above each of said groups and communicating with the vertical flues within the group; upper horizontal flow-duct means for each of the heating walls disposed above the lower horizontal {low-duct means of the heating wall and communicably connecting, through dis-5 tributed ducts, the lower horizontal How-duct* means for one group with the lower horizontal {10W-duct means for the other roup of vertical iues in the heating Wall; eac. of said upper horizontal How-duct means being lo-l cated above the levels of the tops of the coking chambers and each of said lower horizontal flow-duct means being located entirely below said levels and so disposed as to beentirely at a spaced distance below'the levels of the tops of said cham-bers, and the said distributed ducts for each of the heating walls being located between the upper and the lower horizontal flow-duct means of the heating wall and being distributed in horizontally spaced relationship therealong so that there is provided a plurality of said ducts for each of the two groups of vertical fiuesin the heating wall and so that each of said ducts is adapted to` accommodate gask low'fory a plurality ofthe vertical iues of the group thereof that they respectively serve.

7. In a coking retort oven, in combination a series of alternate'side-by-side horizontal coking chambers andr intermediate heatingwalls therefor', said heating-walls comprising Y vertical'iiame-lues whose tops o rt directly Y into horizontal collecting flues t at are 'so re stricted in height that they are located below the level to which thekadjoming coking-'chambers are adapted for being charged ,and yet allow the flame-filles tov extend upwardly tol nearly` the'top levelfor coked charges ;v a furtherv collecting-Hue extending lengthwise" over each heating-wall andy located above .the level of the top of the adjoining coking charnbers;` a multiplicity of vertical ducts connecting' said" further collecting-flue at 'several points alongeach half of its length with ,the aforesaid horizontal t collecting-fines, saitl ducts being spaced at such intervals that each may servevr to convey combustionroducts from and to substantially not more t an half the'number of vertical flame-fines that `may concurrently serve for up-flow combustion orarranged iny a rowdisposed in groups operable in alternation with each other for upiiow combustion and downow of combustion products; regenerators communicating with said flame-fines; horizontal, flow-duct Ymeans immediately labove land directly communicating with the vertical flame-fines of each of the aforesaid groups in each heating wall and respectively disposed at a spaced distance below the tops of the adjacent coking chambers; a connection y'lue above the horizontal iowduct means in each heating wall and disposed higherthan the tops of said coking chamber,

for' passing combustion products from a horizontalflow-duct means of one group to a horizontal How-duct means of a reverse flow lgroup of vertical iiues in the same heating wall; and a plurality of upwardly directed flow ducts directly connecting each of the horizontal-Howr duct means in each heating wall with the aforesaid connection flue therefor; the said low ducts of each of said horizontal-flow duct means being distributed therealong so that each of these accommodates gas flow to and from a plurality of vertical ues between each two of them; whereby each of said horizontal-flow duct means may be restricted in height and cross-sectional area'so as to accommodate only the flow of combustion products to and from substan- 8 e 1,787,968 f u tially not more than halfvthe number ofvwvertical ame-tlues that may concurrently serve for uplow combustion or for down-flow H- take of combustion products. 9. In a coking retort oven, in combination:

a plurality of parallel coking chambers; heat-vv ing-Walls between and contiguous thereto and y each comprising individual vertical fla'lne flues disposed in groups'operable alternately tor upiow combustion and downow Ofcombustion products; a horizontal flue immedi-l atelyabove each ,of said groups and directly communicating with the vertical lues within the group; a connection-flue, foreachof the heatingwalls, above the horizontal lues of theheating Wall, the connection-Hue commu-y nicably connecting', by duct means, the afore. said horizontal fines of'one group with the horizontal fiues of another. group of vertical,l flues of the same heating-wall; a llurality .of partitions separating each of said) horizontal ues, and sald duct means comprisin ,a ver? -tical duct midway eachtwo consecutlve partitions communicably connectin'gkthe flues between each two consecutive partitions with the connection flue. A e 10. In a coking retort oven, in combina-V tion: a plurality of parallel cokingchambers; heating-walls between and contiguous thereto a nd each comprising individual vertical iame llues disposed in groups operable alternately for upow combustion and ydownliow of combustion products; a horizontal flue immedi-v ately above each of said groups and directly communicating with the vertical ues within the group; aconnection-ilue, foreach of the heating walls, above the horizontal lues of the heating-wall, the connectiondiue .communicablyconnecting, by duct means, the aforesaid horizontal lues of one group with the horizontal tlues of another group of vertical tlues of the sameheating-wall; said horizontal lues being separated by partitions, nd said duct means comprising ducts indivi ual` to each of the horizontal fines, communicably connecting them with the connection-flue. t

In testimony whereof I have .hereunto set.-

my hand.

JOSEPH VANKACKEREN. 5o v v 

